Herbal supplements and vitamins are now integral to so many people’s lives and diets. For the most part, we take them to help improve our health and how we feel; reduce pain, treat anxiety, and achieve relaxation. One such supplement that’s has become popular all over the country is kratom.
Kratom comes from the leaves of the tropical plant Mitragyna speciosa, native to Southeast Asia. Many Asian communities have been using kratom for centuries, reaping it’s benefits with only limited side effects. Today, you don’t need to travel as far as Asia to get it thanks to many physical shops and kratom vendors online.
As kratom gains popularity and becomes more accessible, more focus is also being given to studying the herb, its alkaloids, chemical compounds, and its long-term effects on its users. So before you buy kratom online, it’s important that you learn about kratom’s health effects both positive and negative.
Is kratom safe?
The biggest question anyone will have before even considering buying kratom online is whether or not it’s safe. As evidenced by many users both in the US and abroad, kratom is mostly safe to use. Whether taken as needed or regularly as part of your daily regimen, kratom can be used as an herbal medication to treat chronic pain and diarrhea, increase energy and stamina, and as a substitute for opium or to treat opium withdrawal.
Just like with any other medication, kratom can have side effects occasionally depending on the dosage. Kratom’s psychotropic effects has led to its use recreationally as a cannabis-like drug.
In high doses, kratom can cause agitation, hypertension, dyspnea, and confusion. Overdoses are possible and can cause seizures and even coma.
But with responsible use and proper dosing, all of these side effects can be avoided. But it still begs the questions, are there any long-term effects for regular kratom users?
Kratom health effects on liver
As mentioned earlier, as kratom increases in popularity so has the amount of research. According to a couple studies, chronic use of kratom has been associated with rare instances of acute liver injury. Injury usually presents within one to eight weeks of starting regular kratom use. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, pruritus, and dark urine followed by jaundice.
The cause of injury due to kratom is still unknown, but it’s worth noting that in the cases observed, it is often used with other agents, including drugs of abuse. Its causative relationship to liver injury in published cases is not always clear.
Are kratom’s health effects on the liver reversible?
The good news is that these instances of liver injury are rare and can be treated. The negative kratom health effects on the liver resolve and those who present with liver injury usually recover once kratom use is discontinued.
It’s also important to note that studies so far have not been able to prove a causative relationship between kratom use and liver injury. These cases are rare and represent exemptions rather than the norm.
Given this information, it further highlights the importance of understanding kratom and how it works as well as the proper dose for you. How much kratom one should take will greatly differ from person to person. A key rule to follow when finding your appropriate and safe dose is to start small, slowly, and gradually increasing your dose until you get the intended health benefits. Once you start experiencing any negative side effects, you should stop use of kratom immediately.
Learn more about kratom with Dakind Botanicals
Kratom’s popularity is only starting to rise so the body of knowledge available to the public is still limited. If you’re in need of more information, check out Dakind Botanicals.
We’re not just kratom vendors online, we’re also advocates of kratom and its benefits who are constantly working to educate everyone about the herbal supplement.
If you’re interested in learning more about kratom, how to use it, and its benefits and effects, visit our website! We’ve gathered common questions most have in our FAQ and also have a rich library of blogs and articles to help you understand how kratom can help you.
